Archbishop of York Dr. John Sentamu said there was a need for vicars “to welcome and affirm, in their parish, transgender people”, adding that the “theology has to be done” by the House of Bishops and “can be done very quickly”.

A cynic might suggest that maybe the church would come up with the theology before implementing the change, but I don’t think anyone believes the Anglicans care about God in any real sense. Church is about feeling good about yourself, no matter what you do.

Their doctrine is a mixture of feel-good political stances and marketing ploys. It's really the Church of Whole Foods.

The process documented in the article gives the game away: The various bodies met and agreed that the trans thing had to go forward. Now it's up to the theologians to come up with a quick cover story.

I'm rather flip about all this because I have to be - the alternative is too depressing. I know a number of people who have watched their churches completely repudiate their former teachings, essentially telling them that the touchstone of their faith is now considered a hateful, bigoted lie.

It is hard for me to imagine a crueler fate than to pour out one's life in service to an organization only to be told that it regards you as a loathsome creature because you won't change your beliefs fast enough.

A great example is the United Methodist Church, which teaches that alcohol is sinful, but sodomy is just peachy.

Compounding the tragedy is the fact that gender dysphoria is a mental illness, and ceremonies like this will only make it harder for those affected to get proper treatment.